The Range

What's New

In 2011, the Honda Fit experiences some subtle but effective changes. Honda increases the number of standard features by adding keyless entry, stability control, cruise control, and USB/auxiliary audio device connectivity. In order to create additional cargo space, the gas tank is relocated to fit underneath the front seats. That gives the 2011 Honda Fit more cargo space than the Kia Sportage. Amidst these small changes, perhaps the biggest change concerns the Fit’s increased competition. However, the 2011 Honda Fit does not appear ready to give up its top spot.

Exterior

The 2011 Honda Fit is available in two trims, the base model and the Fit Sport. Standard base model features include 15-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, and full power accessories. The 2011 Honda Fit Sport adds 16-inch alloy wheels and fog lights.

The 2011 Honda Fit has an aggressive design that some people consider as peculiar or even odd-looking. This car gives the illusion that it looks smaller on the outside, but the inside is quite roomy for a subcompact.

The 2011 Honda Fit is quite roomy for a subcompact vehicle, with 91 cubic feet of passenger space. The rear seats fold down to give the ample 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space some additional room, if needed. The seat in the folded down position creates a flat surface in the cargo area for loading tall objects. The interior is built with quality materials that are fitted together with the finesse of more expensive vehicles. However, the climate controls seem subpar when compared with the rest of the interior.

Performance & Handling

The 2011 Honda Fit is powered by a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that gets 117 horsepower at 106 lb-ft of torque. The five-speed manual transmission is standard, but consumers can opt for the five-speed automatic transmission. The 2011 Honda Fit Sport also comes equipped with manual override shift paddles. Sprint speed is average, clocking zero to 60 mph in 9.5 seconds. The base model with automatic transmission gets a sprint time of 11 seconds.

The 2011 Honda Fit is very nimble, but the ride is a bit unsettling. The car jolts and jumps over potholes and expansion highway joints, despite being equipped with Macpherson struts in the front and torsion beams in the rear. It also does not feel stable when driving in high winds. When driving in the city, the 2011 Honda Fit is easy to maneuver and its size makes it easy to park in tight spaces. Although the car appears sporty on the exterior, the performance is decidedly not sporty. Acceleration is sluggish and is most noticeable when merging into highway traffic. The engine is noisy and the outside and wind noise is pronounced.

Safety

2011 Honda Fit standard safety equipment includes four-wheel anti-lock brakes, front disc and rear drum brakes, front side and side curtain airbags, stability and traction control, and intermittent windshield wipers. However, the timing of the wipers is very slow, and it could lead to visibility issues when driving in the rain or snow.

The 2011 Honda Fit got a perfect five stars for frontal impact protection and side impact protection for the driver and front passenger and four stars for side impact protection for rear seat passengers. It also received a ""good"" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in frontal and side collision protection and an ""acceptable"" rating for roof strength.